During breeding season, the red-backed kingfisher will move to river courses to make use of the earthy banks to dig nesting burrows.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Dhaadhiirr
At a glance
FamilyKingfishers
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatIt inhabits dry forests , mulga and mallee country, to spinifex and almost treeless country, often far from water.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from May to August.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Louis Masarei
Range map
Range map
5300visible hotspots
31348visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Note grayish streaked crown (blue/green in similar Sacred Kingfisher). Upper-wing is entirely blue in flight. Seen well, the rusty rump is obvious.
Behavior
Perches on high dead trees or powerlines. Excavates tunnel nests in earth-walls and banks.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
Queensland
Northern Territory
New South Wales
South Australia
Victoria
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania
Commonly confused with
Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiiNote pale eye and pale, finely streaked head. Occurs across northern Australia in a variety of woodland habitats including parks and gardens. Often perches on powerlines.→Forest KingfisherTodiramphus macleayiiNote bright white spot in front of the eyes that does not extend back over the eye. In flight shows diagnostic large white wing panels.→